A Second Arrest Made, Third Suspect Still at Large in Davis Murder Case

Joseph Sadeno, 20, from Vacaville remains at large
Joseph Sandeno, 20, from Vacaville, remains at large

On Monday afternoon, the police released names and photos of the two remaining suspects in the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Peter Gonzales following an early morning fight inside KetMoRee Thai Restaurant & Bar in downtown Davis early Saturday morning.

Police arrested Zackary Sandeno, 21, shortly after police had identified him and his younger brother Joseph Sandeno, 20, as the two remaining suspects in the murder investigation. Late on Saturday, police had arrested Martyn Contreras of Vacaville, 25, who is being held without bail at the Yolo County Jail.

Joseph Sandeno is described in the police report as a white male, with blond hair, blue eyes, approximately 6’00”, and 140 lbs. Based on the police investigation, Joseph Sandeno currently has shoulder length blond hair.

According to reports, the victim, Mr. Gonzales, had been in Davis with his family to attend his sister’s wedding on Sunday. The wedding party ended up at KetMoRee on Friday night. Mr. Gonzales was coming to the aid of his two brothers who had been assaulted in the bar. He was fatally stabbed.

Mr. Contreras will be arraigned on Wednesday afternoon at the Yolo County Superior Court.

Police announced the arrest of Zachary Sandeno, 21, Vacaville on Monday evening
Police announced the arrest of Zachary Sandeno, 21, of Vacaville, on Monday evening

The murder has shocked the sense of many in the community who are questioning current policies that have allowed restaurants like KetMoRee to convert to an after-hours night clubs. KetMoRee has been a popular late night location with college-aged crowd but often has been the source of trouble in the form of fights and drunkenness.

On Friday night this scene turned deadly. The Vanguard has requested incident reports dating back five years at the club.

Assistant Police Chief Darren Pytel told the Vanguard that police responded to a fight inside the bar located at 238 G Street at approximately 1:30 am on Saturday morning.

When officers arrived they found a 23-year-old male from Southern California suffering from a serious injury consistent with being stabbed. The victim was transported to UC Davis Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Assistant Chief Pytel told the Vanguard, “There are no indications the victim did anything to provoke the fight.” And information has emerged, as stated, that the victim was actually coming to the aid of his brothers at the time he was stabbed.

Detectives have not ruled out gang involvement regarding the three suspects.

KetMoRee remained closed throughout the day on Saturday, surrounded by yellow tape as investigators from the Davis Police Department and Yolo County Sheriff’s Department worked the crime scene.

KetMoRee has long been troubled by late night violence, with at least one previous stabbing.

Meanwhile, Davis continues its string of murders. From 2004 to 2011, there were no murders at all in the city of Davis. Then in October 2011, James Mings was arrested for murder in a strange case where a jury would ultimately find Mr. Mings guilty of attempted murder, instead of either first- or second-degree murder.

Then there was the infamous Daniel Marsh double murder in the spring of 2013, where the Davis teenager stabbed to death an elderly couple in their Davis home. In May of 2014, a Yolo County jury acquitted Davis resident Quentin Stone, accused of shaking his three-month-old baby, ultimately causing his death.

In September of 2013, Aquelin Talamantes was arrested and accused of drowning her five-year-old daughter. The defense had argued not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury convicted her and she received a 25 years to life sentence.

Darnell Dorsey is accused of assaulting his girlfriend’s child, causing the child’s death in Davis. That case is still pending and the defense has argued that there is no direct evidence tying Mr. Dorsey to the murder.

Most recently Joseph Hein, 23, shot 27-year-old Whitney Engler and took his own life this spring. The coroner confirmed the murder-suicide scenario. An autopsy report released this week gave few clues about Mr. Hein’s motive for the murder. Although it did turn up a note detailing that he planned to take his own life, it did not specify why or the reason he killed Ms. Engler as well.

—David M. Greenwald reporting

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  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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114 comments

  1. Peter Gonzales sounds like a wonderful young man who was tragically killed. The Enterprise has a great story about their family, which is truly close knit. Gonzales was a college student, worked with autistic children, and was loving towards his parents and siblings.

    Are these 2 pictures DMV photos, or mug shots? I hope they throw the book at these three, and my guess is this is not there first run in with the law.

    1. Good question.  I assume it is 21.

      I know that the Graduate used to have an 18 or older night.

      My late brother In-law cop used to lament that night because of all the 18 year old girls that would go to the graduate drinking before and in the parking lot and all the out of town (“gang bangers”) that would come to prey on them.    I’m not sure if the Graduate still does that.

      1. Real or pretend gang bangers?

        To think I am old enough that on Thursday at The Grad the small worry was horny strong farm boys.

        The cops would walk through Mr. Bs and the Grad on busy nights. Kind of nice.

        1. “The cops would walk through Mr. Bs and the Grad on busy nights. Kind of nice”

          I think that scenario is kinda nice, too. Maybe some of the kids could even learn the cops’ first names, and say “hi” to them when they later saw them in the community, at a grocery store or newsstand.

    2. Is the KetMo 21 and over at night? Or 18 and over?

      Sabrina L. from Pittsburg, CA says on Yelp:

      I haven’t eaten here yet, but I’ve been here more than a dozen times. How you might ask?! Well, at night, Ket turns into a crackin bar/club/lounge! There’s a dance floor, DJ, and lots of drinks! The Dj usually plays hip hop, so everyone is out on the dance floor by midnight. It is only 21+ at night, the security is pretty strict on who looks like who’s ID! I’ve heard of many people getting their IDs taken away because they used a fake.$5 cover change after midnight and free entrance before! If you want ins and outs, get a stamp from the bartender (sometimes they ask you to buy a drink).This is a college-filled place! It’s usually the most crazy here on Thursdays! It’s extremely youthful and pretty known to be full of Asians.. Usually after ket closes at 2, everyone heads to Red 88! They belong to the same owners. I highly recommended for any UCD students! I had great memories here after I turned 21 🙂

    1. I would start to fix this problem by refusing service to anyone with a face tattoo.

      If this was my blog, I would choose to delete this statement. It is inflammatory rhetoric, the kind of which leads to hateful and base comments. I’ll let you decide David what kind of blog you want to be.

      1. It was a provocative statement, but instead of going all hypersensitive why not respond with something deep and thoughtful?  The main reason I posted this was to illustrate the absurdity in superficial thinking to demand that the restaurant somehow prevent the bad people from being allowed in.  And you, Ms. Millet, stepped right into my trap.

        Hypersensitivity over the tragic murder of this young man conflicts with all the other hypersensitivity preventing solutions.

        Hypersensitivity is its own worst enemy.

        1. I guess people with face tattoos are now considered victims.   Knowing that I think I will go get one, because it is otherwise impossible for a conservative white male to get one of those valuable victim cards.

        2. Give it a rest Frankly. This “method” of yours is what lazy, unintelligent people resort to in order to begin destructive, vitriolic conversations.  Like I said, you are better then this. If you want people to respond in thoughtful ways, make thoughtful comments, instead of taking cheap, unimaginative shots at people for the choices they make about how their own bodies.

          If David wants this blog to be a place where thoughtful dialog occurs I recommend he remove your post.

        3. I recommend that David removes your posts since you keep attacking me directly without much valuable contribution to topic at hand.  Why don’t you author a piece on blogging etiquette and sensitivity and political correctness?   Maybe I can learn something from your deeper perspectives on this.

        4. By the way Michelle, it is not illegal to discriminate against people with tattoos.  The KetMoRee night club has a dress code.  They could very easily include tattoos on the dress code list.  My recommendation stands as a way to help prevent tragedies like this one from recurring.

          I guess the related question is… why does this bother you so much?

        5. I had the same thought, Frankly. Add to that gang tattoos as being forbidden… but I’m not sure of the legal implications there.

          The one suspect who had yet to be found was 20 … we’ll have to see how he gained admission.

          P.S. Maybe give a pass to Maori facial tatts.

        6. It wasn’t that provocative.
          Provocative: causing annoyance, anger, or another strong reaction, especially deliberately.

          Have to disagree based on the responses.

          Now, maybe it wasn’t very deep or very thought-provoking.  I will give you that.

    2. I recommend that David removes your posts since you keep attacking me directly without much valuable contribution to topic at hand.

      Tell me Frankly, how is making derogatory comments about people who choose to get facial tattoos making a valuable contribution?

      What this type of comment does is perpetuate the thing you spoke so adamantly against yesterday, which was basing decisions on emotion. What is disgusting about your post, is that you are directing it at a group of people. We are not allowed to make decisions about how businesses operate based on emotional snap judgments, but you are promoting doing just that to people. Again it’s disgusting, and again if this was my blog, I would not allow it.

      1. The irony is that the only ones who seem to derive the benefit from society being overly PC are the type of people who aren’t PC themselves, e.g., the individuals who attacked the victim.  Does everybody who chooses to have a face tattoo, knowing the associated stereotype,  have the right to go to any establishment they want?  In this case it seems like the person got the face tattoo to send a message to others about his “toughness.”

      2. What is disgusting about your post, is that you are directing it at a group of people.

        There’s a big difference between directing comments at a group of people for things they cannot choose, vs. things they can.  Make choices, take your chances with how you are judged.  People don’t choose their race, and most agree they don’t choose their sexual orientation.  They sure as hell choose to get a facial tattoo.

        1. that’s not a legal standard for discrimination.  restaurants can get away with dress codes because people can change their attire.  they can’t remove tattoos.  not everyone with a facial tattoo is a gang member or even has a criminal record.  courts probably have yet to work this out, but it doesn’t seem a solution to the problem.  note two of the three culprits here didn’t have facial tattoos.

        2. Not saying it’s a legal standard.  Saying I don’t personally give a discrimination pass to people to choose to do things, rather than were born that way.

      3. What this type of comment does is perpetuate the thing you spoke so adamantly against yesterday, which was basing decisions on emotion.

        No emotion.  That is your gig.

        If you have a face tattoo (other than those for Polynesian or Australian cultural connections) you are more likely to have criminal tendencies.

        A new study suggests that people who load up on body art are more likely to engage in risky and criminal behavior.

        My recommendation is completely rational.  You already know that I have no feelings, so why would you say I am being emotional?

        1. You already know that I have no feelings, so why would you say I am being emotional?

          You just like to pretend you don’t have feelings on the VG, but I know better then that;-)

  2. KetMoRee has long been troubled by late night violence, with at least one previous stabbing.

    I can choose to spend my dollars elsewhere, rather than support an establishment that draws violence to the town.

    1. True.  I think Our House has had some incidents too.  Cross that one off your list.  And the Graduate.  Cross that one off your list.  And Uncle Vito’s Pizza… cross that one off your list.  And Froggy’s… cross that one off your list.

      1. Other communities have dealt with this in a variety of ways. If, in fact, people see a broader problem here, the city council can certainly work with the downtown businesses (all of them; other businesses are impacted by these problems) to try to craft some solutions.
        Walnut Creek went through this; perhaps somebody could follow up and see if they developed workable solutions.
        http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17101273?source=most_viewed

        1. I think the downtown businesses which want to offer late night clubbing experiences should be required to contribute funds for extra security or police, since they are obviously profiting from this.

      2. I crossed every one of these places off my list when they start a night club scene.  Haven’t spent a dime, have refused invitations from friends to eat at these places.

        Not Sophie’s, that’s primarily live music, very different scene.  Not as stabby.

        1. Hmm… your nuance is very subjective here.  Care to elaborate?  “Different scene”?

          So how would you implement policy around different scenes?

          Discriminate disco versus live music?  Or is that the Sophie’s crowd is mostly white folk?

          You like some places, and don’t like other places, so we should penalize the places you don’t like, and allow the ones you do to say open later?

          I guess that can work.  Call it the Alan Miller late nigh bar ordinance.

        2. Care to elaborate?  “Different scene”?

          I did, in the previous day’s article on the stabbing.

          Discriminate disco versus live music?

          Disco?

          Or is that the Sophie’s crowd is mostly white folk?

          No there’s a provocative statement.

          While I would like to see these places that I “don’t like” shut down, what I am talking about in this post is simply not giving them my money.  With the stabbings, inviting others to join me.

        3. A friendly suggestion:  get the name of the establishment correct.  It’s Sophia’s Thai Bar & Kitchen.  Sophia’s is acceptable shorthand, but no Sophie’s need apply.

           

  3.  
    From an email I sent this morning to the Mayor and staff:

    Dear Mr. Mayor:
     
    These bars release patrons up to about 2 am and many come stumbling past my home, yelling in groups and generally being extremely obnoxious.  These same groups stream north on G Street past the homes of other long time family homeowners.

     
     
     
    Would it be legal to shut the bars down at 11 pm? Or at least stop serving alcohol?
     
     
     
    Nothing good comes out of drinking in bars after about 11 pm. They can take the party home.
     
     
     
    I usually do not concern myself with business practices of core commercial but the stabbing murder this weekend, only blocks from my home, is totally unacceptable.
     
     
     
    I would like to request a ride along with the Davis Police beginning at 9 pm on a Thursday night, please.
     
     
     
    Thanks,
     
     
     
    Michael J. Harrington
     
    “Three Yards North of Downtown”
     

    1. Mike – you are a man of resources… you could always go purchase a big home on the quiet periphery if being close to the downtown core area bothers you.   However, the restaurants and bars… they really don’t have that choice since folks like you work so hard to prevent the development of commercial locations on the periphery.

    2. I would like to request a ride along with the Davis Police beginning at 9 pm on a Thursday night, please.

      Stand on the corner of 2nd and H Streets, or 3rd and G Streets, from 11pm to 2am on a Thursday night, and you’ll see all you need to see.

    3. Considering that the entire country shut down alcohol sales at all times once, I’m pretty sure it’s legal.

      That worked out really well too.  Not sure why they repealed that.

  4. Frankly,

     

    Please, tell me what good comes to this town from people drinking themselves under the table after 11 pm at these bars?  Some walk and bike home, but many drive cars.

    I think shutting off the alcohol sales at 11 pm would do the trick, but there might be pre-emptive state law about this?  I copied the letter to City Attorney Harriet Steiner, so we might hear from her?

     

    (Speaking of hearing from the City Attorney, I think a regular column on the DV by her would be very interesting …. and would draw a lot of readers.)

  5. Please, tell me what good comes to this town from people drinking themselves under the table after 11 pm at these bars?  Some walk and bike home, but many drive cars.

    First, you generalize here.  The majority are young people socializing at night… the same that I did when I was their age.  I assume you did too, but I might be wrong.

    What good?

    1. Gives the local young people something to do in town instead of driving to other communities.

    2. Helps support the businesses and helps the community retain better restaurants that can otherwise not survive because of the high rents from the land-use scarcity demands of Davis voters.

    3. With good restaurants down town, is helps pull in customers that help the other retail businesses.

    4. For those that hire live bands, supports the arts.

    5. More retail tax revenue to the city.

    6. Keeps downtown property values high (I would think you would like this point)

    Again, you are one to keep fighting against peripheral development while the population of the city grows as UCD grows and so more and more people are coming to a downtown that has pretty much stayed the same size since the 1960s.

    Note that every city considered to have a vibrant downtown is one with a healthy supply of good restaurants and bars.

    You seem to be creating your own problem to complain about here.

    1. I thought Walnut Creek put a moratorium on new alcohol licenses, and also staggered close down times so that the police force wouldn’t have to worry about policing 50 places all closing at the same time.

      The article linked was from 2011, I wonder what success they have had?

    2. Don’t forget that a fun downtown is a draw for new students.  Students = revenue for the largest business/employer in the city.  People who live and work in davis and enjoy high median incomes and property values owe that to the existence of the University.

      It’s hilarious when people act like what students want from a community is just a huge burden.

    1. Oh give me a break Mike.  You are full of hyperbole this morning.

      Here is what I would suggest if you really want to see a reduction in incidents of drunk young people in your privileged downtown neighborhood… start supporting development that provides more alternative locations around the city and does not concentrate everyone downtown.   Also, support increasing the supply of commercial space to help drive down downtown rents so more nice restaurants can pencil out instead of needing the revenue of alcohol sales.

      I am all for a reduction in the number of downtown retail establishments that cater to students.

      I am a foodie.  I appreciate the culinary arts just like I appreciate other arts.  I would like us to do better supporting culinary arts in this town… especially since we are home to the #1 food-science research university in the world.  We cannot effectively do that if we don’t have enough reasonably-priced real estate.  We cannot effectively do that if we limit the downtown as the only retail destination for students.

        1. It was over-priced until Leonardo finally started listening to people like me telling him so.  I think it is one of the better restaurants in Davis at this time.

  6. The City can definitely come at these problems under nuisance law.

     

    The City Council should take very definite steps to increase public safety and reduce the negative effects resulting from how these late night bars are being run.

  7. We may have hit a tipping point, just like San Luis Obispo, Walnut Creek, and elsewhere. They were once small hidden gems. If you want to read about serious and frequent crime for small towns, the Central Coast seems to have a load.

    These cities seem to suffer from similar characteristics. Surrounding smaller and medium-sized cities offer few nightlife outlets, and / or are prone to crime themselves. These successful smaller cities develop an attractive nightlife scene, and the wanna be gang bangers (or gang bangers) seek out the same fun and naive, “fresh” college girls. Add in testosterone, booze and weapons, and there is a recipe for disaster. Social media / electronic communications probably makes it even easier for knuckleheads to message their friends to join the “fun”.

    Short term, I say fund and implement well-publicized DUI checkpoints. I’m not sure why there is reluctance for this, unless the town is OK with UCD students drinking and driving. I personally often walked home, and then there was Tipsy Taxi as a fallback.

    If there is another nightclub murder in the near future, the city council, police department, City Manager and other city leaders will look very bad for prioritizing basketball hoop regulations over these life and death issues.

    1. Well said.  The City has ignored these issues for too long.  The City was more than happy to send back the MRAP when its acquisition  made the news.  Hopefully, this unfortunate tragedy will get the City to take the proper proactive measures that actually are important to its residents, and prevent future happenings.

        1. Seriously- someone is seriously proposing sending tanks thru downtwn Davis when the techno music is thumping & booze is flowing? Seriously, a military tank in your village because booze is flowing and techno thumping? Seriously? A military tank on G street?

  8. Anon 
    September 22, 2015 at 9:42 am

    KetMoRee has long been troubled by late night violence, with at least one previous stabbing.
    I can choose to spend my dollars elsewhere, rather than support an establishment that draws violence to the town.

    ReplyReport comment

    Frankly 
    September 22, 2015 at 10:28 am

    True.  I think Our House has had some incidents too.  Cross that one off your list.  And the Graduate.  Cross that one off your list.  And Uncle Vito’s Pizza… cross that one off your list.  And Froggy’s… cross that one off your list.

    To Frankly:  I have crossed off some Davis restaurants/stores on my list who failed to sign the agreement not to sell alcohol before 11 am on Picnic Day.  I have also crossed off my list establishments that give poor service, bad food, etc.  I am free to choose where I spend my dollars.  If a restaurant has a history of inviting violence, it will not get my patronage.  And I very much doubt I am alone in this.

    You sound as if you are willing to stick up for any small business, no matter what they do.  Do you frequent businesses that give you poor service, bad food?  Do you support a restaurant that may not have proper security on site and repeatedly has violent incidents occur there?  You are certainly free to support any business you want with your dollars, your business, and your words.  But so am I free to spend my dollars elsewhere and as I see fit.   There is a term of business called “good will”, and it is an extremely important factor in whether a business survives.